Prestige TVis dead to me.
I’d rather watch disposable, easily consumable shows like Haikyu!!
!, currently available to watch onNetflix, is ananime.
A sports anime to be precise.
Much like Slam Dunk, the show it’s most clearly inspired by, Haikyu!!
focuses on a ragtag group of high school students: Teenagers who are obsessed with volleyball.
That niche sport no one really watches or plays?
That niche sport no one really watches or plays.
It’s hardly the most compelling or popular sport.
!, the volleyball barely matters.
!, volleyball is almost inconsequential.
More than anything, Haikyu!!
is a show about the people whoplayvolleyball.
Can’t get enough of it.
Drip feed this serotonin directly to my veins.
Inspired by an expansivecanonof high school sports anime, there’s a comforting familiarity with Haikyu!!.
The aforementioned Slam Dunk provides the template, but Haikyu!!
Much like those shows, Haikyu!!
takes the humdrum of high school life and elevates it into something dramatic and spectacular.
Points are won and lost.
Rival teams and enemies are introduced.
Crushing losses are navigated and glorious victories are secured.
Every second is a condensed, hedonistic joy.
But what elevates Haikyu!!
beyond run-of-the-mill sports anime are the characters themselves.
The team’s “ace” Asahi is timid and wrestles with feelings of inadequacy.
Even members of the opposing teams are incredibly well drawn.
He’s designed to be the show’s primary villain, but is ultimately rendered sympathetic.
it’s possible for you to’t help but root for everyone in Haikyu!!
and it drives the stakes of every single match to fever pitch.
On a few occasions I’ve found myself on my feet, punching the air in glee during matches.
If you’re impatient, you could watch seasons three and four for free on Crunchyroll.
I took it a step further.
After watching all episodes of the show, I needed more.
I’ve now read every single chapter of the manga source material the anime is based on.
Folks, you’ve got a lot of great stuff to look forward to.
The rabbit hole runs deep.
But, for now, every single journey starts with a first step.
The first step of your Haikyu!!
journey begins with episode 1 on Netflix.
You won’t regret it.
